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Expert: - 12/4/2007


Question
Hello,
My Name is Daniel-John Ferris i am 17 years old and live in Germany, i am doing a Training as an Actor in a acting school, now my question is, when i finish my training, where would be the best place and Persons to go to be good in the career like doing films or so that i can earn my money? Is it good to stay in Germany or should i go to the U.S. ?

Answer
Hi Daniel John,

To be honest, I don't know much about the film industry in Deutchland compared to the US. If you can travel to the US I am sure there would be opportunity, but it is hard to make it anywhere you go and there is plenty of competition here. The fact that you can speak German is a plus IF they are filming period films or if the character allows or requires German or the accent. Now I don't know how you learned English, but if you learned by BBC language tapes as some of my German friends did, you may be able to use the British accent and play British roles. I am assuming possibilities... If you can do an American dialect of English, great, along with the other linguistics, you will be versatile in what you can audition for.
That's about all I can advise. Perhaps we will see you here in Hollywood soon!

Best,

Taylor

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Taylor Sheppard

Expertise

I can answer questions: on starting a career in acting, mistakes in acting, etiquette when dealing with industry contacts, finer points on how to act, and things to avoid in the field.

Experience

I have been a professional actor 21 years, with appearances in TV, Film and commercials. I have made good decisions and potentially damaging mistakes. I believe anyone who has a dream deserves to explore it, and I take their aspirations seriously. That being said, I do not pull punches. I try to be tactful, but I will not lie to someone, honesty is more effective. My last film role was in "Teeth" which was picked for Sundance in January 2007. It was sold to Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. for somewhere over 2.5 million. The role was "Mr. Griffith", a sex-ed teacher.

Organizations
Ciao Agency-Austin/Georgetown, Texas. (Formerly known as Donna Adams Agency. Matthew McConaughey was a good friend and fellow member. I also have belonged to agencies in three other Texas cities, but they have since closed.) TXMPA -Texas Motion Picture Alliance. Various other internet networking web rings as well as Actors Access. I was instrumental in advising actress Krista Allen on getting her career in acting started in Austin,Texas (we worked at the same Health Club in the early '90's).

Publications
Previously wrote on a now defunct website such as this one. I enjoyed helping new actors.

Education/Credentials
I have acted for 21 years. I studied under James Nelson Harrell as well as other talented actors at Southwest Texas State University. After college, I have taken classes with Julliard graduate Mona Lee, Bill Johnson, Van Brookes, Marco Perella and others in Austin Texas. I am constantly attending classes to maintain my edge and explore new directions. In addition to attending strictly acting classes, I have also taken business workshops with respected casting directors, such as Shari Rhodes ("Jaws","Close Encounters", "Raggedy Man".) Barbara Brinkley, Jo Edna Bolden and Donise Hardy, (Castingworks LA).

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